FIFA investigations (27.05.2015)

The justice minister, President Simonetta Sommaruga, informed the Federal Council this morning about a request from the USA for mutual legal assistance. The USA has submitted a request to the Federal Office of Justice based on a bilateral extradition treaty with Switzerland for the extradition of a number of individuals currently in Switzerland in connection with the FIFA Congress. Seven football officials were arrested this morning by Zurich Cantonal Police and detained pending extradition. According to the US arrest request, they are suspected of having accepted millions of dollars in bribes. Those arrested are now subject to extradition proceedings in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.

In carrying out these extradition proceedings, Switzerland is complying with its international treaty obligations. The Federal Council condemns any form of corruption. It is unable to comment on the specific allegations against those arrested, or on the ongoing proceedings. Under Swiss law, a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty. For further details, I would refer you to the Federal Office of Justice and the press releases published earlier.

A second investigation being conducted by the Office of the Attorney General into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups (Russia and Qatar). However, that investigation has no connection with the mutual legal assistance request from the USA that I mentioned previously. For further details regarding that criminal investigation, I would refer you to the Office of the Attorney General – a press release has already been published on that matter too.